Rockaway Boulevard is South Ozone Park's main business strip. There is also a high concentration of small businesses along Liberty Avenue, which is also one of South Ozone Park's main source of revenue.

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Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of South Ozone Park was 75,878, a change of -3,028 (-4%) from the 78,906 counted in 2000. Covering an area of 1,878.12 acres (760.05 ha), the neighborhood had a population density of 40.4 inhabitants per acre (25,900/sq mi; 10,000/km2).[1]

The entirety of Community Board 10, which comprises Howard Beach, southern Ozone Park, and South Ozone Park, had 125,603 inhabitants as of NYC Health's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 81.7 years.[5]:2, 20 This is higher than the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods.[6]:53 (PDF p. 84)[7] Most inhabitants are youth and middle-aged adults: 22% are between the ages of between 0–17, 28% between 25–44, and 28% between 45–64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents was lower, at 9% and 13% respectively.[5]:2

As of 2017, the median household income in Community Board 10 was $73,891.[8] In 2018, an estimated 19% of South Ozone Park and Howard Beach residents lived in poverty, compared to 19% in all of Queens and 20% in all of New York City. One in ten residents (10%) were unemployed, compared to 8% in Queens and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 56% in Howard Beach and South Ozone Park, higher than the boroughwide and citywide rates of 53% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018[update], South Ozone Park and Howard Beach are considered to be high-income relative to the rest of the city and not gentrifying.[5]:7

Howard Beach, southern Ozone Park, and South Ozone Park are patrolled by the 106th Precinct of the NYPD, located at 87-34 118th Street.[9] The 106th Precinct ranked 26th safest out of 69 city precincts for per-capita crime in 2010. The rate of car thefts is high because of the area's proximity to the Belt Parkway, a major travel corridor.[10] With a non-fatal assault rate of 32 per 100,000 people, Howard Beach and South Ozone Park's rate of violent crimes per capita is less than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 381 per 100,000 people is lower than that of the city as a whole.[5]:8

The 106th Precinct has a lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 81.3% between 1990 and 2018. The precinct saw 6 murders, 16 rapes, 183 robberies, 246 felony assaults, 133 burglaries, 502 grand larcenies, and 97 grand larcenies auto in 2018.[11]

Preterm births are more common in South Ozone Park and Howard Beach than in other places citywide, though teenage births are less common. In Howard Beach and South Ozone Park, there were 97 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 14.2 teenage births per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide).[5]:11 South Ozone Park and Howard Beach have a low population of residents who are uninsured. In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 8%, lower than the citywide rate of 12%.[5]:14

The concentration of fine particulate matter, the deadliest type of air pollutant, in South Ozone Park and Howard Beach is 0.0068 milligrams per cubic metre (6.8×10−9 oz/cu ft), less than the city average.[5]:9 Twelve percent of South Ozone Park and Howard Beach residents are smokers, which is lower than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers.[5]:13 In Howard Beach and South Ozone Park, 27% of residents are obese, 19% are diabetic, and 34% have high blood pressure—compared to the citywide averages of 22%, 8%, and 23% respectively.[5]:16 In addition, 21% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%.[5]:12

Eighty-three percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which is less than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 77% of residents described their health as "good," "very good," or "excellent," about equal to the city's average of 78%.[5]:13 For every supermarket in Howard Beach and South Ozone Park, there are 8 bodegas.[5]:10

South Ozone Park is covered by the ZIP Code 11420.[16] The United States Post Office operates two post offices nearby: the South Richmond Hill Station at 117-04 101st Avenue,[17] and the Ozone Park Station at 91-11 Liberty Avenue.[18]

South Ozone Park and Howard Beach generally have a lower rate of college-educated residents than the rest of the city. While 28% of residents have a college education or higher, 23% have less than a high school education and 49% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 39% of Queens residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher.[5]:6 The percentage of South Ozone Park and Howard Beach students excelling in math rose from 33% in 2000 to 61% in 2011, and reading achievement rose from 37% to 48% during the same time period.[19]

South Ozone Park and Howard Beach's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is less than the rest of New York City. In Howard Beach and South Ozone Park, 18% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year, lower than the citywide average of 20%.[6]:24 (PDF p. 55)[5]:6 Additionally, 82% of high school students in South Ozone Park and Howard Beach graduate on time, more than the citywide average of 75%.[5]:6

Our Lady's Catholic Academy Our Lady’s Catholic Academy is a diverse, child-centered Catholic elementary school with 2 campuses that serves the South Ozone Park community. The first school campus located on 126th Street and Rockaway Boulevard, was founded in September 2009, under the direction and guidance of the Board of Directors. The school expanded to a second campus in September 2012 and is located on 128th Street and 111th Avenue [20]

P.S. 108Q - Captain Vincent G. Fowler is an elementary school that educates an average of 1400 students from Pre K-5th Grade. It is located across from the Aqueduct Racetrack.

Virgil I Grissom, J.H.S. 226, Rockaway Blvd and 122nd Street. This middle school is named for the late astronaut, it features Grades 6-8 and specializes in several areas of general education practices. It is a zoned school.